Bitcoin to $1 million? Arthur Hayes sees ETF-fueled surge but…

• Hayes attributed Bitcoin’s rise to $70k to ETFs.
• Investors have started to show an increased preference for BTC.

In the wake of fluctuating Bitcoin [BTC] prices, Arthur Hayes, the co-founder of BitMEX, has issued an optimistic forecast for the cryptocurrency’s future.

In the latest episode of “The Wolf of All Streets” podcast, Hayes envisioned Bitcoin reaching unprecedented heights. He commented,

“A million? I don’t think people have big enough imaginations…why did it go so fast as 70,000? Because a bunch of people now can check a box and buy some Bitcoin ETF.” 

Recent statistics bolster his argument. The ten leading spot Bitcoin ETFs witnessed a remarkable 15% increase in net inflows, reaching $2.57 billion just last week.

This was a leap from the $2.24 billion recorded the preceding week. 

The exec interpreted this trend as a clear indicator of a growing interest from the global investment community.

Disillusioned by the diminishing returns of traditional bonds, investors are now viewing Bitcoin ETFs as a lucrative and low-risk diversification option.

To Wall Street and beyond: The ETF revolution

The shift towards Bitcoin ETFs has not gone unnoticed by financial experts.

Grant Engelbart, Vice President and Investment Strategist at Carson Group, highlighted the trend in a recent interview with Bloomberg ETF IQ. He revealed,

 “We have seen a handful of advisors allocate on average 3.5% to two client households.”

Engelbart shed light on the strategic funding of these investments. He noted a trend where investors are reallocating assets from other segments of their portfolios.

This particularly constitutes growth funds and aggressive equity positions.

These allocations to Bitcoin ETFs are generally conservative. They constitute a minor segment of the total portfolio, often not surpassing five percent.

Altcoin ETFs can open more demand

Drawing from the success of Bitcoin ETFs, Hayes speculates that fund managers are keenly observing the market, ready to capitalize on the expansive universe of over 3,000 cryptocurrencies.

He suggested that the introduction of altcoin ETFs could significantly amplify demand. This will be driven by the sheer appetite for trading diverse digital assets.

Moreover, Hayes hinted at a pivotal moment awaiting the potential launch of an Ethereum [ETH] ETF, stating,

 “There may be a little bit more resistance…. the Ether one, if it happens, and the floodgates are open.”

The exec pointed out that integrating altcoins into ETFs is seen not merely as an expansion of the crypto narrative but as a strategic move to attract more assets under management (AUM).

Thus, it enhances stock valuations and generates increased fee income for those at the helm.